Risk factors:
(1) being intoxicated
(2) putting on clothing, socks, boots or shoes without checking for scorpions
(3) walking around barefoot at night
(4) reaching blindly under or onto rocks with bare hands
(5) going to bed without checking the bedding first
(6) playing with a scorpion
(7) slapping down on something that is felt crawling over the skin rather than quickly brushing it away
Protective measures:
(1) Scorpions are attracted to insects. Keep insects away from a habitation by covering food and garbage.
(2) Be careful handling piles of wood or building materials. Keep these at a distance from any habitation.
(3) Wear gloves, full boots and protective clothing when working in an area that could be used by a scorpion as habitation.
(4) Make sure that windows and doors have screens and that there are no gaps.
(5) Place a piece of moist burlap on the floor at night. Scorpions will tend to hide there rather than in adjacent bedding.
(6) Keep a light on when sleeping at night.
(7) Teach children about scorpions. Inspect play areas for signs of scorpions before letting children play.
(8) Glazed tiles or other smooth material can be used to create a barrier to scorpions since they are unable to climb smooth surfaces.
(9) Insecticides can be effective if they are used frequently and in large amounts.
